Headquarters Daily report DECEMBER 28, 1994 *************************************************************************** REPORT NEGATIVE NO INPUT ATTACHED INPUT RECEIVED RECEIVED HEADQUARTERS X REGION I X REGION II X REGION III X REGION IV X *************************************************************************** PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED MORNING REPORT - REGION II DECEMBER 28, 1994 Licensee/Facility: Notification: K And L Scrap MR Number: 2-94-0111 (Agreement State Facility) Date: 12/28/94 Raleigh,North Carolina Subject: RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL IN SCRAP SHIPMENT Reportable Event Number: N/A Discussion: On December 27, 1994, a representative of the State of North Carolina Radiological Health Program advised the Region II office of the presence of radioactive material in a railcar containing scrap steel. According to the North Carolina Radiological Health official an incoming railcar shipment of scrap steel was rejected by the Darlington Steel Company in Darlington South Carolina when survey instrumentation detected the presence of radioactive material. The railcar shipment was returned to its orgin K and L Scrap, a scrap metal vendor in Raleigh, North Carolina. State of North Carolina officials assisted with survey activities upon arrival of the shipment in Raleigh, North Carolina. The survey revealed the presence of a small sphere (approximately 4mm in diameter) containing about 60 uCi of Cs-137. The source is currently in the custody of the North Carolina Radiological Health Proram and no other radioactive material were detected in the railcar shipment. Regional Action: The State of North Carolina requested NRC's assistance in determining source/device applications using the type and form of such radioactive materials. The regional office advised that such sources are often used as calibration sources for liquid scintillation counting systems. No additional information or support was requested by the State of North Carolina. This information is current as of 8:30 a.m. on December 28, 1994. Contact: William Cline (404)331-0346 Earl Wright (404)331-5617 PRIORITY ATTENTION REQUIRED MORNING REPORT - REGION IV DECEMBER 28, 1994 Licensee/Facility: Notification: Nebraska Public Power District MR Number: 4-94-0150 Cooper 1 Date: 12/27/94 Brownsville,Nebraska Licensee telecon to SRI Dockets: 50-298 BWR/GE-4 Subject: DROPPED SOURCE RANGE MONITOR Reportable Event Number: N/A Discussion: On December 26, 1994, while performing surveillance Procedure 14.2.19, SRM/IRM Insert/Retract Drive System Maintenance," the Source Range Monitor (SRM) C drive tube and cable fell approximately 10-12 feet to the containment floor. The instrument technician was performing an inspection of the SRM drive motor gear box and gears and, instead of removing the inspection cover, had removed the gear box. When the gear box was removed, it became disengaged from the drive tube which houses the SRM cable. The SRM drive tube and cable dropped approximately 10-12 feet before encountering the containment floor. The SRM shuttle tube, remaining portion of cable, and SRM detector remained within the reactor in-core housing. A health physics technician was present and noted that the radiation levels increased from approximately 20 mrem/hr to 30 mrem/hr. The resident inspector's review of the activity concluded that the procedure was inadequate, the instrument technician performing the work had not been sufficiently trained, and the instrument technician did not question his activities as he proceeded with the inspection. The licensee is currently assessing the extent of the damage to the SRM cable, drive tube, and shuttle tube. The licensee is considering formulating a corrective action review board team to review and assess the event. Review of the design of the drive mechanism indicates that it would have been possible in this event for the U238 detector to have been withdrawn from the core. However, the rigidity of the cable would have made this improbable. The licensee indicates that general area dose rate would not have appreciably increased had the detector been withdrawn. The unit has been shut down since May 25, 1994. Regional Action: The Region will perform followup inspections to determine if the activity could have resulted in a significant radiological incident due to exposure of the SRM detector and further assess licensee procedures, training, and work control as they pertain to this event. Contact: T. Reis (817)860-8185